Page 51 of Playing By Their Rules

We march to Maisie’s table, bypassing the confused host who was beginning to ask us how many will be in our party.

Our party. Fuck. This is most certainly not a party.

Maisie looks horrified at our arrival, and if it weren’t for the fact that a strange guy has his arm around her, I’d feel a pang of sympathy for her right now. She shoves him off as we approach.

“Maisie,” I say, “what a surprise.”

“Ethan. Chance.” She scoots her chair back and stands up. Her skirt and t-shirt are casual, not something I would think she would wear on a date, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a date. She says, “You know Mina and I think you know Bradley. And this is Mikey.”

I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t for her to throw herself into my arms and cling to me in such a possessive, clearly affectionate way. Not even thinking, I lower my face and kiss her. She grins up at me, then grabs Chance in her arms and stands on her tiptoes, waiting for his kiss.

“Baby girl,” he whispers, brushing his lips against hers, “you know we’re gonna need some kind of explanation.”

“What the hell is going on?” the guy who was sitting next to her says. Mikey. “Why are you kissing my date?”

“There’s been a misunderstanding,” Maisie says, before I can reach around her to strangle him.

I wouldn’t actually strangle him, but the fantasy must be playing across my face because she takes my hand in hers.

“I did try to tell you I’m not single,” she says to him.

“Right, but Mina said you are.” Mikey reaches for her even though she’s firmly holding my hand. “Come on, baby, you’re with me tonight. Lemme show you a good time.”

Shaking her head, Maisie says, “You should’ve listened to me about whether or not I’m single. I was trying to be polite. My mistake. Fuck off.”

“Let’s go,” Chance says, his voice gritty with barely-repressed anger.

We aren’t making a scene, but the group at the nearest table is starting to look on with curiosity.

“Sorry, Bradley, Mina,” Maisie says before spinning away on Chance’s arm.

Her roommate, ex-foster-sister, whatever she is, screws her mouth up so tight it’s a wonder her lips don’t turn to granite. I nod at her and Bradley, then follow Maisie and Chance out of the restaurant.

“I’m so sorry,” Maisie says as we stand on the sidewalk. “I had no idea, and I know how that looked—where’s your car? Did you drive here?”

“We walked,” I say. “It’s just a couple of blocks.”

She goes quiet, no more apologies, no more explanations. Does she think she fucked up? I want to reassure her, but I don’t want to be emotional about it. With every step on the way back to the apartment, I remind myself that she’s here, with us. That the view of her with that guy’s arm around her shoulders is the lie. The truth is right here next to me, biting her lip and sending Chance and me uncertain looks.

“I’m in trouble, huh?” she asks as we take the elevator up to our floor.

“What was your first clue?” Chance asks. “Panties off.”

She hesitates because we’re in the elevator. Chance just raises his eyebrows. With a huff of disbelief, she reaches beneath her skirt and drags down her underwear. Chance holds out a hand and she passes them to him. He tucks them into his pocket just as the elevator chimes, signaling our floor.

“You didn’t think that I’d really gone on a date with that guy, did you?” Maisie asks. “At least, not voluntarily? I was just as surprised as you.”

“There was a moment where I thought you had,” Chance says quietly. “You know we’ve been cheated on before. But as soon as you jumped up and ran to us, I knew the truth. It didn’t stop me from being mad—all that adrenaline doesn’t just disappear on its own.”

We stop at Chance’s door and he lets us in. Once the door is locked behind us, I say, “Take off your clothes.”

Maisie turns around to face us head-on and lifts off her shirt.

“So, tell me what I did wrong,” she says.

Gesturing that she should finish undressing, I say, “You didn’t do anything wrong, angel.”

“Oh, you’re punishing me because you’re jealous?” she says, laughing while she unsnaps and removes her bra.

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